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That is the most likely cause, assuming you weren't aware of any other contact involving the edge and something hard. A towel is an unlikely suspect.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanS
I would recommend sending it back for re-honing and asking Lynn or Don for some advice on an appropriate brush and soap/cream. They have some great stuff that isn't overly costly and would be glad to point you in the right direction. They could ship everything back to you in one package and you would be good to go.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill S
SRD soaps are top notch!
Initially, I used Walmart shave soap, which I suspect is about the same quality as your CVS shave soap. I didn't find it as useless as you do. However, it did dry out more quickly than I would have liked. Until you upgrade, try lathering initially. Then, occasionally, dip your brush in warm water only, shake out a little of the excess water, then apply the watery brush to your face. (Who knows... you might be doing this already.)
When I lathered, if every time I went back to the face with the brush, it was with a fully lathered brush, the soap on my face got thicker and thicker, and even a little gummy. Try diluting with water occasionally, and you will like it better.
By the way, I have upgraded shave soap. But, even with higher quality soap, I find that applying water as above is needed.
After trying a few soaps, each an upgrade over the last, I finally realised that the quality of a soap is directly correlated to a) its price, or b) the workmanship that went into it. I figure that "custom/artisan" soaps are good and cheap because a real person made them and they thus can play with the mix and it doesn't really affect cost. With manufactured soaps its simply economics. If soap doesn't perform, you can't sell it for $20. If it does perform, you can. I feel bad recommending this but just cut to the chase and buy something from CarrieM or Mama Bear or TGQ (artisan soaps) or something expensive and manufactured. I just tried MWF and its great stuff.
I bought the same CVS soap and brush and still have them. I finally gave my cats the brush as they like rubbing themselves on it when I am shaving. As for the soap, I use it to wash my hands. Yes, they were worthless to me in performance, but at least I found a more meaningful use for them.
After that initial experience, I ordered Col. Conk Soaps and a great quality Badger Brush - and what a difference and I still have them. There are so many good choices, you just need to spend more to get them. My purchases get used on every shave and I am very happy with their performance. Step up your shaving tools and you will be a new man.
Bummer about your blade. Get it honed again. My first straight still has a tiny chip in it from when it touched the sink the wrong way.:gaah: I can still shave with it and its hard to see if you don't know how to look for it. And it actually touched the sink a few more times without incident - duh! Finally my awareness kicked in and it doesn't happen anymore.
Welcome to straight shaving and keep up the effort. I love the BBS shaves I get every time I shave. Looking back, the learning curve was a fun adventure for me.
Good Luck!
Pabster
I bought an Edwin Jagger brush from bestgroomingtools.com
It cost me about $25 dollars, but it's way way better than the one from CVS that I started with. Its whatever grade of badger is kind of grey, I can never remember the grades...
I make it a practice to always have a fluffy, folded hand towel in a nice clear area of the sink for placing the open razor on when I'm rinsing, re-lathering, etc. The last razor I chipped was in the late '60's when I dropped one. It bounced off the edge of the sink and ended up on the floor between my feet. (That's also why I use giant sheet towels wrapped around my waist, with two layers in front!):dropjaw:Quote:
Originally Posted by DanS
That is, I believe, some excellent advice.Quote:
Originally Posted by fritz
Thats just what I do, I use smaller face cloths, 1 kept dry for placing my Razor on, and 1 I use for soaking my stubble/wiping my blade between passes etc, when I have done I rinse out the wet 1, and use it to wipe the sink etc down, and the dry one to dry everything down with.Quote:
Originally Posted by fritz
However, the other day i noticed that the very toe of my blade had a slight "dink" the edge was rolled over at 90 degrees! only a tiny fraction, and it honed out with a little bit of work, so I guess that despite being very careful I must have caught it somewhere :shrug:
Hey DanS!
Are you by any chance using williams mug soap?
What's you lather making routine like?
Weird. Down here in the Netherlands, a popular brand is 'De Vergulde Hand' (The Gilded Hand), which sells solid, neutral soap in round plastic tubs. A 75gr tub sells for about 2 Euros, about 3 US Dollars.Quote:
Originally Posted by khaos
It is a fine soap. Slightly prone to be too dry, but with experience it is possible to whip up a high-water content lather straight from the tub.
And a tub will last ages, even on a daily shave.
Mart
Yeah, actually it is williams mug soap. And it turns out I am using a boar bristle brush.Quote:
Originally Posted by cubed1
Since I first posted, I have been improving my lather method. Now I let a tablespoon or so of hot water sit on top of the soap while I shower, and let my brush soak in hot water. After shower, wring and shake out brush and then load it with soap. Whip it up with little bits of water at a time in a small bowl until i get a somewhat decent lather. Still has some large bubbles in it, but it's pretty smooth and foamy. Massage some lather into my face and away I go.
I am getting some SRD soap in the mail and I might look for some shave cream and/or glycerin to make a better lather if it needs it.
My razor is in the mail now to get honed again. And thanks for the advice about setting the razor on a towel while I do my shave routine, great suggestion!
One last question: I noticed that there was some rust at the hinge of the razor. Is there anyway to prevent that (besides not getting the hinge wet ever)? I'm not really sure what I can do to fix that... any ideas?
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanS
Awesome! I've been experimenting recently with williams and have discovered it is a water hog. I got my best lather by soaking the puck in my biggest shave mug with my brush whilst i shower. Then I dump out most of the water (when there's just a trickle dripping out, i stop). And lather away. When the bubbles are small, I put brush to face and finish lathering there. The interesting thing about it is that when the lather dries out, don't worry and keep shaving. Somehow, the soap sinks into the skin and protects it, no matter the lather quality. I tend to grab some lather from the mug, to moisten when the lather looks a little dry but that's probably overkill. Just keep in mind that williams is best as a wet creamy lather and you should get good shaves out it.
About the rust: there are a couple of things you can do. First, always rinse your razor with hot water at the completion of your shave and dry it as best you can. Secondly, you can polish out the rust with MAAS and then oil the hinge to protect it.
I hope this helps!
Cheers,
:beer2:
When I shaved in the past with a pre-shave oil, after some time, the oil dried to some degree. But, it was still on the skin. Rewetting made the skin as slippery as before. And, away you go.Quote:
Originally Posted by cubed1
I suspect the comment by Cubed1 about the lather drying out amounts to an observation about the oil content of the lather.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryAndro
I would have to concur. =)
I just chalked it up to williams being a tallow based soap because glycerin based soaps don't seem to be as easy going. For them, when your lather dries out, it's gone for good.
The only annoying thing about the williams is when your lather is really really dry it still shaves, close and comfortable but it really gets gummy on the razor blade. But I can live with it - Williams is WAY too much fun to lather to stop now!
Cheers!
I started with Williams a few years ago and about three months ago I switched to the VDH sold at Walmart and the chain drug stores in my community. I found that the VDH gave a better lather than the Williams (I didn't try soaking the puck, though). It seemed that the lather still dried more than I prefer so I started adding 4-6 drops of glycerin on the puck when I started my lather. Extra water helps the drying and the glycerin made a slicker, more comfortable shave.
I concur with the Col. Conk's soap. I believe it is still inexspensive for around $5 and it lathers great.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pabster
I am still very new to this, but it does get better. Take care.
And teh almond scent makes me so hungry.
After I finish shaving, I dry the razor off as best as I can, then I blow really forcefully down at the pivot point, to force any excess water out. I haven't had any problems with it yet. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DanS
Also, you could maybe put a few drops of rubbing alcohol down in at the pivot point, and work the blade a little to let it get in there good. The alcohol should help get the water out of there as well. Just a thought.
I use the Proraso shaving cream and after shave from Straight Razor Designs. Both of those products are great. Highly recommended. I bought a Tweezerman badger hair brush from Amazon and i've been using it for the past 10 months. It's a low costing brush for $20 but it works great, also highly recommended. From the information i've learned from this website, using a towel to dry off the razor is okay. Just have a light touch to it.
hmm that alcohol suggestion is interesting. Has anyone else tried this?Quote:
Originally Posted by avatar1999
I keep 99% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle and use it liberally after shaving. It makes it easy to wipe off the soap scum if you have hard water. I then spray again and set the open razor on a rack to air dry at least until after lunch. The only thing that you have to be careful about is that it doesn't do anything to your scales, depending on what they're made of and how they're finished. Whether you follow this with oil depends on your situation, like humidity, length of storage, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanS
If you do develop some rust there, the easiest way I've found to clean it (without taking the scales off) is to use Flitz or Maas polish on a piece of dental floss. (Use the wide braided type.) It's best to have the spine clamped in a padded vise so you can do a "shoe-shine" movement with the floss.
Another possibility for 'nicking' your blade could be applying too much pressure on the blade when stropping. This has happened to me at the beginning and the blade was also scratching significantly over the strop afterwards. The razor needed a proper honing to get it touched up.
Sorry, I cannot be of any help for soap / cream making, have no experience in that.
+1 on checking out SRD (or even here on SRP in the Classifieds) for a decent Brush.
All the best.
thanks for all the advice yall. I just picked up a silver-tip badger brush on the classifieds, and I'm sure it'll be a world of difference from my cheap boar brush. My newly honed razor should be arriving from SRD soon. Also, where can I buy MAAS?
Dan, I read some of the posts. Be careful when you set down the razor, even a paper towel will work. I was going to tell you, but it seems you already found out, Just send your razor back to SRD. Actually, I think you get the first honing free on their razors.
To keep your razors from rusting, you can use Cemelia oil, available at SRD. It's cheap, and it's good. You can also use Wahl clipper oil, available usually wherever the sell Wahl clippers, Wal Mart, Target, Walgreens. You wipe a really thin coat on the blade after use. I no longer do this with my razors in rotation, as I feel I was just wiping it back off to quickly. I keep 7-9 razors out at a time. You can use a gun cleaning cloth, one treated with silicone or something. After you shave, shake it, Always try to avoid getting water in it, especially around the pivot pin. Let stay out until your done getting ready. Once you are, wipe it down and put it up. It should be good to go.
Oh, MAAS Metal Polish is available on Amazon.com a 4 oz tube in a purple box....